Prognostic and clinicopathological utility of programmed death-ligand 1 in malignant pleural mesothelioma: A meta-analysis

ObjectiveProgrammed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has been reported to be connected to prognosis in individuals with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), although there is no consensus based on data from previous studies. Accordingly, this quantitative meta-analysis investigated prognostic and clinicopathological utility of PD-L1 in patients with MPM.MethodsA comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases for articles published up to October 4, 2019 was performed. Studies using immunohistochemical techniques to detect/quantify the expression of PD-L1 in MPM tissue were enrolled in the analysis. The combined hazard ratio (HR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association between PD-L1 expression and overall survival (OS).ResultsA total of 11 studies comprising 1606 patients was included in the present meta-analysis. For OS, pooled data revealed an HR of 1.50 (95% CI 1.32–1.70; p < 0.001), suggesting that patients with PD-L1 overexpression experience inferior OS. Subgroup analysis revealed that elevated PD-L1 remained a significant prognostic indicator for worse OS, irrespective of sample size, cut-off value, ethnicity, and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale score. Moreover, PD-L1 overexpression was associated with non-epithelioid histology (odds ratio 4.30 [95% CI 1.89–9.74]; p < 0.001).ConclusionsResults of this meta-analysis show that elevated expression of PD-L1 could be a factor predicting poorer survival in patients with MPM.     

养心定悸胶囊治疗伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭的临床研究

目的观察养心定悸胶囊治疗伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭患者的效果。方法将2016年5月1日—2018年6月1日就诊于河北省人民医院的104例伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭患者随机分为试验组52例和对照组52例,2组均给予改善心功能、稳定心率在内的规范化治疗,试验组在此基础上加服养心定悸胶囊,6粒/次,2次/d。观察2组患者治疗12周后症状、心率、RR间期、心功能[左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD)、左房内径(LAD)、N端前脑钠肽(NT-proBNP)]及心率变异性指标[窦性心率RR间期标准差(SDNN)、RR间期平均值标准差(SDANN)、相邻RR间期差值的均方根(RMSSD)、窦性相邻RR间期之差>50 ms的计数占总RR间期数的百分比(PNN50)]的变化,记录2组不良反应发生情况。结果治疗12周后,试验组和对照组的临床症状总有效率分别为88.5%(46/52)和75.0%(39/52),试验组明显高于对照组(P<0.05);2组患者的24 h总心搏次数、心率及长RR间歇次数均显著少于治疗前,最长间歇时间均显著短于治疗前,且试验组最长间歇时间显著短于对照组,长RR间歇次数显著少于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05);2组患者的LVEF及均心率变异性各指标显著高于治疗前,LVEDD、LAD及NT-proBNP水平均显著低于治疗前,且试验组的变化都更为显著,差异均有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。治疗期间2组患者的不良反应发生率比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论养心定悸胶囊辅助治疗可明显改善伴长RR间期的心房颤动合并慢性心力衰竭患者症状,有效稳定心率,缩短长间歇,改善心功能,调节心率变异性,且安全性高。     

Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery

ObjectivesSevere acute kidney injury (AKI) is a known risk factor for infection and mortality. However, whether stage 1 AKI is a risk factor for infection has not been evaluated in adults. We hypothesized that stage 1 AKI following cardiac surgery would independently associate with infection and mortality.MethodsIn this retrospective propensity score–matched study, we evaluated 1620 adult patients who underwent nonemergent cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2011 to 2017. Patients who developed stage 1 AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes creatinine criteria within 72 hours of surgery were matched to patients who did not develop AKI. The primary outcome was an infection, defined as a new surgical-site infection, positive blood or urine culture, or development of pneumonia. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, stroke, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS).ResultsStage 1 AKI occurred in 293 patients (18.3%). Infection occurred in 20.9% of patients with stage 1 AKI compared with 8.1% in the no-AKI group (P < .001). In propensity-score matched analysis, stage 1 AKI independently associated with increased infection (odds ratio [OR]; 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.17), ICU LOS (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.71–3.31), and hospital LOS (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.17-1.45).ConclusionsStage 1 AKI is independently associated with postoperative infection, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS. Treatment strategies focused on prevention, early recognition, and optimal medical management of AKI may decrease significant postoperative morbidity.     

Correction of frequency and phase variations induced by eddy currents in localized spectroscopy with multiple echo times.

As a consequence of the time-varying magnetic field induced by eddy currents, frequency drifting occurs when the sampling window of localized spectroscopy continuously shifts. The frequency drifting and the concomitant phase variations can severely affect spectroscopy results when data are acquired with multiple echo times (TEs), such as in the measurement of glutamate (Glu) concentration using the TE-averaged method. Specifically, the averaged spectra are further broadened and distorted in the presence of residual eddy currents, and editing of the coupled spins of Glu C4 protons is affected, resulting in errors in the measured relative intensity ratio. Postacquisition correction using unsuppressed water as reference can effectively minimize this detrimental effect, as manifested by the significantly enhanced signal intensity. Also, it is demonstrated that the methyl signals of creatine (Cr) at 3.0 ppm and choline (Cho) at 3.2 ppm can be used as internal references in finding frequency and phase disparities between different TEs.     

Reproducibility of Computerized Measurements of QT Interval from Multiple Leads at Rest and During Exercise

Background: Accurate measurement of the QT interval is important for diagnosing long QT syndrome (LQTS), and in research on determinants of ventricular repolarization time. We tested automatic analysis of QT intervals from multiple ECG leads on chest. Methods: Eleven healthy volunteers and 10 genotyped LQTS patients were tested at rest and during exercise with a bicycle ergometer twice 1–31 months apart. Electrocardiograms were recorded with the body surface potential mapping system, and 12 precordial channels were selected for analysis. Averaged QT peak and QT end intervals were determined with an automated algorithm, and the difference QT end minus QT peak (Tp‐e) was calculated. Repeatability was assessed by coefficient of variation (CV) between measurements. Results: Within one test at rest the QT end intervals were highly repeatable with CV 0.6%. In repeated tests CV was 4.4% for QT end interval and 3.5% when the QT interval was corrected for heart rate. In exercise test at specified heart rates, mean CV was 3.0% for QT end and 2.9% for QT peak interval. The CV of Tp‐e interval was 10.2% at rest, and 9.3% in exercise test. Reproducibility was comparable between healthy subjects and LQTS patients. Conclusions: The BSPM system with automated analysis produced accurate and highly repeatable QT interval measurements. Reproducibility was adequate also over prolonged time periods both at rest and in exercise stress test. The method can be applied in studying duration of ventricular repolarization time in different physiologic and pharmacologic interventions.     

Multiple spike-train analysis using mutual interval matrix

The principal-component approach is applied to the analysis of sequences of neuronal action potentials (spike trains). Multiple spike trains are represented as a sequence of vectors of mutual interspike intervals and are considered to be part of the trajectory of a dynamic system. The trajectory matrix is decomposed into a number of ‘basic spike patterns’ and their relative magnitudes by singular-value decomposition. The representation provides a convenient framework for analysis of dynamic relations and cooperation between neurons in an observed network. Examples of applications to simulated and cerebellar data are presented.     

Prediction of steady-state bioequivalence relationships using single dose data I-linear kinetics

Simulated data using a linear one- and two-compartment body model with different absorption characteristics were used to evaluate the ability of single dose bioavailability data to predict the relationships that exist at steady state. This was done by comparing the confidence intervals obtained from single and multiple dose data sets for the parameters of Tmax, Cmax, and area under the curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-infinity). As a consequence of Tmax and Cmax decreasing and increasing from single to multiple dosing regimens, the confidence intervals for these parameters reflected these changes. The 90 per cent confidence interval expressed as a percentage of the reference mean increased or decreased for Tmax dependent upon the ratio of Ka test/Ka reference, and decreased for Cmax while the interval for AUC0-infinity exhibited no predictable pattern and appeared to be influenced by the amount of error in the data set. Alteration of either the dosing interval or the fraction absorbed did not affect the pattern of change in the confidence intervals for Tmax and Cmax, but the latter did result in a decrease in the interval for AUC0-infinity. Analysis of the confidence intervals for Tmax, Cmax and AUC0-infinity in bioequivalency studies for quinidine gluconate and procainamide hydrochloride following administration of single and multiple doses to different subjects appeared to be consistent with the patterns observed for the simulated data sets.